Verbena plant named ‘KLEVP20042’

ABSTRACT

A new  Verbena  plant particularly distinguished by red and pink bi-colored flowers having white eyes, and an upright, compact, and rounded habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Verbena x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEVP20042’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Verbena, botanically known as Verbena x hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEVP20042’. ‘KLEVP20042’ originated from a cross-pollination conducted in November 2015 in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia between the proprietary female Verbena variety ‘15.5170’ (unpatented), and the proprietary male Verbena variety ‘15.5169’ (unpatented).

The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown for evaluation, where an individual plant designated ‘KLEVP20042’ was selected from the group of plants in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in October 2016.

In October 2016, ‘KLEVP20042’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative cuttings in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia. ‘KLEVP20042’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative stem cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Latina, Italy.

-   -   1. A red and pink bi-colored flower with white eyes; and     -   2. Having an upright, compact, and rounded habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, and flowers. The photograph is of a plant approximately 12-weeks-old grown indoors in Stuttgart, Germany in April 2020. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEVP20042’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Latina, Italy. Data was collected on three-month-old plants grown in a greenhouse in 2019. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Verbenaceae.         -   Botanical.—Verbena x hybrida.         -   Common.—Verbena.         -   Designation.—‘KLEVP20042’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘15.5170’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—‘15.5169’ (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Growth and branching habit.—Upright with a compact and round             shape.         -   Height (from top of soil).—23.0 cm.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—31.0 cm.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—Approximately 8             weeks.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—About 1 week.         -   Root description.—RHS 155B (White), fine fibrous roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Number of branches per plant.—More than 26.         -   Growth habit.—Upright.         -   Length.—20.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.25 cm.         -   Internode length.—1.7 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 139D (Green).         -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Appearance in cross-section.—Round. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Immature and mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 141A             (Green). Lower surface: RHS 141C (Green).         -   Length.—5.2 cm.         -   Width.—3.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Leathery. Lower surface: Rugose.         -   Venation type.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color (both upper and lower surfaces).—RHS 141D             (Green).         -   Petioles.—Length: 0.3 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Color: RHS 141D             (Green). Texture: Leathery. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Shape.—Tall, cylindrical.         -   Length.—1.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Color (at tight bud).—RHS 38A (Red group). -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Continuously.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About 1 week.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Inflorescence type.—Umbel.         -   Length of inflorescence.—4.5 cm.         -   Diameter of inflorescence.—5.0 cm.         -   Number of florets per inflorescence.—Average is 21.         -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 141A (Green). Length: 2.1 cm. Diameter:             0.2 cm. -   Florets:     -   -   Length.—2.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.9 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Form.—Single.         -   Corolla tube length.—1.6 cm.         -   Corolla tube color.—RHS 157B (Green-White).         -   Petals.—Length of lobe: 1.2 cm. Diameter of lobe: 0.9 cm.             Lobe shape: Obtuse. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Fused. Margin:             Entire. Texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Glossy,             satiny. Color: Immature: Upper surface: Upper two petals are             RHS 41B (Red) and the lower three petals are RHS 39B (Red)             with RHS 155A (White) centers. Lower surface: Upper two             petals are RHS 41C (Red) and the lower three petals are RHS             36D (Red) with RHS 155B (White) centers. Mature: Upper             surface: Upper two petals are RHS 41C (Red) and the lower             three petals are RHS 38B (Red) with RHS 155B (White)             centers. Lower surface: Upper two petals are RHS 39C (Red)             and the lower three petals are RHS 36D (Red) with RHS 155D             (White) centers.         -   Pedicels.—Not visible. -   Sepals:     -   -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Length.—1.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 141C (Green).         -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Hairy, dull. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Present. Quantity: 4. Appearance: Didynamous.             Color: RHS 139D (Green). Filament length: 0.3 cm. Filament             diameter: 0.1 cm. Anther: Shape: Elliptic. Color: RHS 141D             (Green). Length: 0.1 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Pollen amount:             Sparse. Pollen color: RHS 1C (Green-Yellow).         -   Pistils.—Quantity: 1. Length: 1.6 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm.             Stigma: Color: RHS 141D (Green). Appearance: Ovate. Length:             0.1 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Style: Color: RHS 141D (Green).             Length: 1.4 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Appearance: Long. -   Fruit and seed set: None observed. -   Disease and pest/insect resistance: Good tolerance to powdery mildew     (Podosphaera xanthii).

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEVP20042’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Charac- Female parent Male parent teristic ‘KLEVP20042’ ‘15.5170’ ‘15.5169’ Flower Upper two petals are Upper two petals Upper two petals color red, while the lower are deep-pink, are burgundy, three petals are pink while the lower while the three petals are lower three lavender petals are white Earliness Earlier than the female Later than Similar to to parent, but similar to ‘KLEVP20042’ ‘KLEVP20042’ flower the male parent

‘KLEVP20042’ is most similar to the commercial Verbena POPS ‘Salmon+Red Eye’ (also known as ‘KLEVP15616’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,320). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEVP20042’ ‘Salmon + Red Eye’ Growth habit Upright, compact, and Upright rounded shape Flower color Bicolor pink and red Pink with colored eye Branching ability More branching than Less branching than ‘Salmon + Red Eye’ ‘KLEVP20042’ 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Verbena plant designated ‘KLEVP20042’ as illustrated and described herein. 